- Looks like
- Grey flexible pipe, often stamped PB2110
- Years used
- Through the 1980s to the mid-1990s
- Replaced with
- PEX or copper, with new valves
When you need polybutylene pipe replacement
Polybutylene is a flexible plastic supply pipe, usually grey, sometimes stamped "PB2110". Its trouble spots are the fittings and the way the plastic can degrade over time with chlorinated water. Owners replace it for three main reasons: a leak or fitting failure has already happened, an insurer has raised it at renewal, or the house is being sold or bought and the buyer wants it gone. Some do it simply for peace of mind before finishing a basement.
How the job is done
We start in the basement, where Poly-B usually runs from the main valve and water heater along the joists. Then we trace each branch up to the fixtures. A plan is drawn to run new PEX or copper along the easiest paths: through basement ceilings, closets, and existing chases. On many jobs the visible basement runs are replaced first, and branches into walls are reached through small, planned openings.
- New shut-off valves at fixtures and appliances
- Proper support and protection where pipe passes through framing
- Pressure test of the new system before it goes into service
- Old pipe removed where reachable and capped where not
Describe the drain, pipe or fixture and get a straight answer on the phone.
Burlington homes and this work
Burlington expanded rapidly in exactly the years Poly-B was popular. Neighbourhoods such as Headon Forest, Palmer, Millcroft, Brant Hills and parts of Tansley contain many homes that were built with it. Some have already been partially replaced after a leak, leaving a mix of materials. Our guide how to spot Poly-B pipes shows where to look in your own basement.
What affects the scope
- Number of bathrooms and fixtures
- Finished or unfinished basement ceiling
- Whether the water heater and softener connections also change
- Drywall and paint repair after the plumbing work
Before we arrive
Check your insurance policy wording and note any deadline. Clear closets that back onto bathrooms; they often make the neatest route. Expect water to be off for parts of each working day and plan showers around it. For the whole-house picture, see whole-house repiping.
How the work runs on site
- Trace every Poly-B run from meter to fixture
- Plan new routes through ceilings and closets
- Swap the lines section by section
- Pressure test and check flow at each fixture
Questions we get on this
Is Poly-B dangerous?
It is not a health hazard, but it has a history of fitting failures that can cause sudden water damage.
Can you replace only part of it?
Certainly; plenty of people begin with the open basement lines. Replacing all of it removes the concern entirely.
One call to (365) 414-5748 puts you through to a Burlington plumber.